Lectern lighting unit



Feb. 28, 1933. E ER EE ET AL 1,899,499

LECTERN LIGHTING UNIT Filed Oct. 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 28, 1933. c FERREE ET AL I 1,899,499

LECTERN LIGHTING UNIT Filed Oct. 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 28, 1933.

c. E. FERREE ET AL LECTERN LIGHTING UNIT Filed Oct. 14, 19:51

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNI TED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

onannnen ERROL FEBREE AND enn'rnunn nnnnrnnnnn, oriBA 'rnvronn, MAnrnANn nno'rnnu LIGHTING UNIT Application 'filed October 14, 1931. Serial 1%. 568,734.

he invention relates to anilluminating device for lecterns, pulpits, speakers desks and desks for the lecture room in colleges or universities where the pages of note books and other material, as manuscript of rela-' tively considerable areahav'e to be lighted.

Such illumination is useful under any circumstances where printed or typed matter or handwritten notes are to be read or referred controlling the light suitably located at the sides of a floor or support on which the read-- ing matter to be illuminated is placed. For more expensive jobs-the lighting unit can be housed with wood and built intothe-lectern or 'pulpitor speakers desk, and the device may beas ornamentalas desired.

In accordance with the construction shown,

the floor of the box and' the written matter thereon may be'and usually is illuminated from both'sides and thebrightness of the reading surface is apparently equal at all points. Itis further sufficientlv intense to permit of the apparatus to be used with two scales of intensity by omitting. the

illumination at will from either side.- This is of particular advantage where lantern slides or other projected. illustrations are used in connection with a lecture as the light can be so controlled as to come from the side of the lighting box next-to the projection screen, which arrangement contributes to the protection'of the screen from stray light, cutting off any rays from the lectern lighting unit which might strike the screen.

By applicants arrangement of reflectors and diffusing-glass and bafiies in connection with the box or enclosure, the unit is absolutely glareless to the speaker and to the O audience. In addition to the lighting of the voftheroom.

to by a'speaker, and it is of particular advarious dilfusing and reflecting means for book or manuscript being used, the speakers face is well illuminated with diflused light reflected from the fioor of the unit,making it clearly visible to the audience inevery part The construction is further 'so arranged that the eyes of the audience in every part of the room are completely shielded from glare by the front wall, or, in case-the front wallbe omitted, the baffles cooperating with the diffusing plate afiord a degree of protection which ,is ordinarily suflicient Asa means for protecting the eyes of both the speaker and the audience, the unit may be provided either with the bafilesreferred to .or withan opaque shield covering the lower portion of the diffusing glass, thus cutting I off the rays which might be reflectedupwardly and prove harmful in their fefiect.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated a lectern lllumlnating unit embodying the features of our invention in the preferredform. In thedrawings:

' Figure 1 is a top plan view of thejunit.

Figure2 is-a rear elevation.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the lectern. Figureet is. a vertical section on an enlarged scale on the line l, 45 in Figurel.

Figure 5 is a vertical section onthe line 5,5in-Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view 7 of one end of the louvers and the support for the same.

Figure 7 is afragmentary elevation broken away to show a section corresponding to Flgure 4 of a modified form of the devlce.

. Figure 8 1s a fragmentary horizontal sectionat one end of the diffusing glass, the same'being taken on the line 8, 8 in'Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the-modified form, this view corresponding to Figure 2..) 1

Figure 10 is an end elevation corresponding to Figure?) showing the front ofithe lectern supported in raised position by the folding legs. r

Referring to the'drawings by numerals;

each of which is used to indicate thesame" closure which preferably is provided with an upright front wall 1, and lighting boxes 2, 2

at the sides and in the present instance the unit enclosure has a floor 4 which with the front wall 1 serves to connect the boxes 2, 2, though these boxes may be mounted separately at the sides of the lectern top or in any suitable way. The unit is preferably open at the rear at 40, see Figures 1 and 2, to give free access by the lecturer to the book or manuscript not shown, which rests on the floor 4 of the unit or on the lectern between the boxes 2, 2 as suggested. The front wall 1 is a desirable feature, as it assures protection for the eyes of the audience in every part of the room. i v

"The l ighting boxes 2, 2 at the sides shown in detail' in Figure 4, which is on a relatively enlargedscale, are in the preferred form pro vided each with a cover 3 which m'a-yhave a depending liange'5 or cut off'on the long side toward the center of the unit. This cover is shown as hinged tothe top of the corresponding-outside wall "6. Beneath the cover the lighting boxes are provided with inclined -slide guidesorsupports? for the, top reflectors "8 which are preferably removable as by sliding in and out along the guides or supports The enclosure is also provided with atop "flange 9 overlying the reflector guides and supports 7. This braces the side of the box and prov-ides a seat for the cover '3.

- -The source 'o fillumination shown in the form of lighting bulbs 10 is located in the illuminating boxes 2, 2, there being preferably one light bulb'at each end of each box. The light sockets '11 are preferably secured to the end walls of the boxes :as shown. The bulbs are connected by means ofwiring 12, enclosed in conduits or molding 14, shown in the bottom corner 'ofeach box, to any suitsa'b'le source of currentpthe lights on each side being controlled by a corresponding switch 15 so that the unit inay belighted from either vsi 'de or fromboth sides at'the will of the op reflectors 16 supported by uprightbrackets 17 or in any suitable manner, the bottom of the reflector being in the form of the invention :shown spaced outwardly from the floor by means o'f-the conduit 14, the air jacket or air space referred to'betweenthe wall-6 and the reflector :16, being indicated'by reference characterlt). "These reflectors 16, as well as ,reflectorsn8, areeasily removed for polishing and replacementby sliding upwardly. Each box 2 opposite to the reflector 16 andside walls -6,'i. e., toward the center of the unit,

I inthe preferred form-of-the invention shown,

is forme'd of adifl'using glass 20 ora plate of other suitable diffuslng material which is supcenter of the unit where 'on the floor of the unit and the top ibaflie 22" of the assembled series is shown as provided with a hook 26 which may extend the full length of the louver, which hook engages the top of the diffusing plate. holding the baffles in'position, both surfaces ofzthe ballles are flat black or otherwise of low reflecting power. This applies-also' to'the outer surf-ace of the skirt 25.

'The unit'may be provided with any suit-' able type of folding legs 28 shown in folded position in Figure 3. These legs are located beneath or below and in the immediate vicinity of the front wall 1 of the/unit, being preferably adapted to fold into sockets 28 'andito holdthe unit with the front portion,"particularly the front wall, in elevated position, .'giving-a convenient-angle to the work or'manuscript or book on the .deor of'the .nnitwhich creasing the eifectiveness of the protection .a f-

'forded the eyes of the audience.

In the'operation of the unit large portion of'the rays of'the light from the bulbs 10 come in-contact with the upright reflector-16 and the top reflector '8 which i is inclined ;upwardly toward'the center ofthe unit. The

rays from :these reflectors are passed through the upper portion ofthe diffusing the lower portion being :closed by the shield 25 eliminating the rays which are projected downwardly at sharp angle so that they would be reflectedinto the eyescausing glare.

* The sharply inclined'downward rayswhic'h :migbt be reflected intosthe eyes, are cut off and eliminated by the bottom baflle 22 and the'shield '25 depending therefrom, and the cut off by the upper'baflies 22" so that no glare can reach the eyes of thelecturer, but at thesametime a flood of light is delivered with the highest grade of efiiciency to the work, i. e.,"the book or manuscript, rat the it may be supported on the floor 30.

The illumination, as described with the light'coming from both boxes and the arrangement of reflectors diffusing plate and battles as described, is sohighly efiicient'that when for any reason it is desirable or neces sary, as in the delivery of a lecture in con.- nection with lantern slides, to cut off any an dall light from one sideor the other which might reach thescreen, the bulbs on the side remotefrom the screen-may be extinguished so that all light from the remaining source being projected in one direction, i. e.,,' away from the screen, no light from the unit can reach the screen. In this way the apparatus provides two scales of intensity in addition area of the floor of the unit between the boxes is substantially uniform.

It is of particular interest that theunit is absolutely glareless as to the speaker and as to the audience, the latter being protected 7 both by the front wall 1 of the unit and by the by Letters Patent is:

baflies. It is also of interest that the sheet metal construction shown is not essential, it being entirely feasible to build the lighting unit as part ofthe lectern top. or attach the lighting boxes thereto in any suitable way with or without the connecting floorand the front wall, though the protection aflorded the eyes of the audience by means of the louvers is less eflicient than with the front wall in combination therewith. V The alternative form of applicants con;

struction shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 diifers j. in that instead of the louvers an opaqueplate,

31 or opaque surface is. provided which tends upwardly from the floorcovering a con} siderable portion of the dilfusing glass 20 orotherwise cutting off the downwardly disposed rays which pass therethrough toward the book or manuscript. This serves to cut off all of the rays which are inclined sharply downward and which might be reflected into the eyes of thelecturer, the light which is projected on the book or manuscript being read thus limited to the portion which passes from the reflectors through the top areaof the diflusing glass being turned downwardly into contact with the floor of the unit or sub-.

ject matter to be read by the reflection at-an angle which'is less sharply inclined from the horizontal so that the reflected rays other than those which are completely diffused do not enter the eyes of the lecturer or the audit ence. The upwardly inclined ravs are cut off by flange 5 in both instances. 7

The first construction, however, gives a greater amount oflight and a better cutofl'.

ly distributedlight, and shields the eyes of the speaker from glare in any positionin which he may stand. It also shields the eyes of the audience from glare in every part of the room and rendersthespeakers face clear to the audience from allpoints of the room illuminating it uniformly with =well diifus'ed light, audit is further adapted toi'shield a projection screen or other'objects as desired from all'stray light.

We have thus described specifically and in detail a lighting unit embodying the features of'our invention in-the preferred form,

the description being specific andin-de'tail in order that the manner of constructing,

applying, operating and using the invention maybe fully understood, however, the

specific 7 terms herein are used .descriptively 7 rather than in limiting sense,--the scope of the invent-ion being defined in the claims.

What'we claim as newand desire to secure l."Tll8 combination in' a lectern lighting unlt of a support for the work, aflighting box ateach sideiof the support, said lighting l box containing a'source of illumination, a reflector. above the source of llumination inchned upwardly toward the work support,

an llpright reflector onythe side of the source ofuillumination away from the work sup port, an upright dilfusing plate on the'opposite side of the sourceof illumination from v said latter reflector;

.2.- The combination in. a *le'ctern. lighting unit ofa support fort-the work, a lighting box at the sideofthesupport, said lighting" box-containing a source rot-illumination, a reflector aboile the source of illumination in chned upwardly toward the work support, an 7 .uprightreflector.ontheside of the source of illumination away from the work support, an upright diffusing. plate on the opposite sid'elof the source of illumination from said latter reflector-and means'for eliminating the upwardly inclinedrays. I

3. The combination in a lectern lighting unit ofasupport for the-work, a lighting box at the side of the support, said lighting boxffcontaining asource of: illumination, a

reflector above the source of illumination, an

upright reflector on the side of the source of illumination away from the work support,

an upright diffusing plateon the opposite I side of'the source of illumination from said latter reflector, and means for eliminating the upwardly inclined rays coming from the reflectors and the source of illumination.

4. The combination in a lectern lighting unit ofla support for the work, a lighting box at each side of the support, each lighting box containing a source of illumination, a reflector above the source of illumination inclined upwardly toward the work support,- an upright diffusing plate between the source of illumination and said worksupporh'and means for eliminating the upwardly inclined rays from the source of'illumination, and means for eliminating the rays which are inclined at a sharp angledownwardly toward the'work support andjwhich would be refiected into the eyes ofithe reader.

The combination I in :a lectern rlighting :unit of a support forrthe work, alighti'ngbOX at; the side of the support, said lighting box 7 containing a source :ofillumination, ia.rreflec- 5 =tor above the source :of illuminationi inclined ,upwardly toward the Work support, an up- ;right diffusing plate betweenthe source of illumination and said work support, baffles 'for eliminating 'the upwardly inclined rays :10 .from the source dfilIumin'atiOn, and means for eliminatingthe rays which are inclined at a sharp .angle 'downwardly toward the work support and which wouldbereflecte d into the eyes ofthe reader. 7 v V 6. The combination in a lectern lighting unit of a support for the Work, a lighting box at each side of thesupport, said lighting box containing a source of illumination, a re- 'flGGtOI above the source of illumination in- "clined upwardly toward thework support, an upright clifl'using plate between'the source of illumination and-said work-support, and bafmfl'es for eliminating the upwardly inclined rays ifrorn the source-of illuminatiomand a '25 skirt covering the lower portionof the diifusing plate. i i g 7. The combination in a lectern lighting unit of a support for the'work, a'lightingbox at each side of the support,'saidlight ing box containinga source of illumination, a reflector above the source of illumination inclined upwardlytoward the work support, an upright diflusing plate between 'the source of illumination and'said work support, and bafflesfor eliminating the upwardly --inclined rays from the source of illumination,- a skirt covering the lower portionof'the difl'using plate, and means for supporting the unit: whereby it is inclined downwardly from 'front to rear.

Signed at Baltimore, 'Maryland, this 13th day of October, 1931.

' CLARENCE ERROL FERREE.

GERTRUDE- RAND 

